Judge orders shabu ‘tiangge’ witness jailed

A judge in Marawi City has ordered law enforcers handling government witness Samer Palao, a kidnapping for ransom suspect, to commit him to the provincial jail of Lanao del Sur.

"(You) are hereby directed to transport the living body of the accused to the provincial jail of Lanao del Sur for proper commitment," said Judge Santos Adiong in a one-page order dated Sept. 20.

The judge addressed his order to Inspector Rommel Macatlang, Senior Inspector Lorenzo Trajano and Inspector Reynaldo Ramos, of the Special Action Force (SAF), Pasig City police and the police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF), respectively.

Macatlang, Trajano and Ramos are the handlers of Palao, who is being kept at a government safehouse.

In defending his action, Adiong invoked a speedy trial against Palao who is accused of a heinous crime. He ordered the clerk of court and ex-officio provincial sheriff lawyer Cairoding Maruhos to personally serve the commitment order to Macatlang, Trajano and Ramos.

Palao was charged for the death of Cadar Hadji Salam in Baraga Galawan, Lumba-Bayabao town in Lanao del Sur last July.

Complainant Piangne Salam said Palao abducted her younger brother, forced him at gunpoint into a waiting Toyota Hi-Lux pick-up and brought him to Lumba-Bayabao.

The sister said Palao called her up and demanded P5 million for the safe release of Salam.

She said Palao killed her brother after her family failed to raise the ransom.

Adiong ordered the arrest of Palao last July 13, following a resolution filed by provincial prosecutor Paca-Ambung Macabando, who found probable cause against the government witness.

Senior Superintendent Francisco Uyami Jr., Pasig City police chief, claimed the first warrant was recalled last Aug. 16 after they filed a motion for reinvestigation before Adiong.

Palao, accompanied by heavily-armed police and military men attended the hearing for re-investigation at Adiong’s sala last Aug. 28.

Adiong issued another arrest warrant against Palao on Aug. 30.

Palao’s lawyers are seeking legal remedies to prevent him from being committed to the provincial jail in Lanao del Sur.

Palao is the main witness against Muslim trader Amin Imam Boratong, the alleged operator of the dismantled shabu "tiangge" in Pasig City.

According to Palao, the kidnapping for ransom charges filed against him is part of an orchestrated effort of the camp of Boratong to prevent him from testifying against his drug-peddling activities.

"Lahat na lang ay gagawin nila para sirain ako at hindi na makapag-testigo sa korte. Bahala sila basta ako, wala nang atrasan," Palao told The STAR in an interview.

In his counter-affidavit, Palao denied having anything to do with Salam’s death.

Palao said when Salam was killed last July 6, he was in Alegria town, Cebu, the hometown of his wife.